Iowa legal term
Physically helpless in Iowa Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Iowa legislative session
In Iowa criminal law, “Physically helpless” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Iowa criminal code.
What does “Physically helpless” mean in Iowa criminal law?
“Physically helpless” means that a person is unable to communicate an unwillingness to act because the person is unconscious, asleep, or is otherwise physically limited. 3. “Physically incapacitated” means that a person has a bodily impairment or handicap that substantially limits the person’s ability to resist or flee. (Iowa Code § 709.1A)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.